Chapter 10: Dark Obsession: Chapter 10

It’s the middle of the night and I’m sitting in my parked car just outside the mansion.

The engine’s off but my mind is running at full speed. What I’m about to do is not a good idea. There’s no denying it. Hell, I’ve told myself a dozen times to turn around and leave, but here I am, still sitting here.

I can’t help it. I need to see Elena again.

I’d shut down on her after last night, pushed her away like the sex meant nothing, but I’m not fooling myself.

I want her.

No, I need her, and I need her to know that. Just thinking about her makes me lose control, and maintaining control is the one thing I’ve spent my whole life perfecting.

The biggest problem I’m facing now is having to break into a damn Bratva fortress just to see her. The last thing I need is Luk, Lev, or Yuri catching me creeping around the place. If I waltz in through the front door, they’ll be all over me.

I’m not in the mood for a family reunion right now.

Lucky for me, I know more about sneaking into this house than most. I was one of the brains behind the mansion’s updated security features. I know the blind spots, the hidden entry points, and the timing of the guards’ rotations.

Everything.

It’s like a maze I designed, and now I’m the one using that knowledge to slip through it.

I take a deep breath and stare at the mansion’s towering silhouette. I’m going to do it, even if it is a bad idea. I can’t stay away from her.

I’m parked in one of the security camera’s few blind spots—a little patch just off the main road, far enough away to go unnoticed, but close enough to approach quickly. It’s almost too easy, slipping past the initial layer of security.

I step out and make my way toward the gate, staying in the shadows. It’s all about timing and I’ve memorized the guards’ shifts down to the second. The first pair will be doing their rounds on the east side of the grounds, giving me a small window of opportunity. I move quickly, ducking behind a tall hedge as I hear the faint crunching of their footsteps on the gravel.

I wait until they pass, then slip through the gate using a hidden latch only a handful of us know about. Once inside, I navigate the grounds like a ghost, sticking close to the stone walls, using trees and landscaping for cover. I dodge another guard near the patio, ducking beneath a blind spot in one of the outdoor cameras. Every corner, every turn, I know exactly where to hide.

Finally, I make it to the mansion. Inside, I locate a security panel tucked behind an alcove. Quickly, I tap in a code, disabling the motion sensors for exactly five minutes.

That’s all I’ll need.

I move upstairs, heart steady but mind racing. Elena always chooses the same bedroom when she stays here—the one on the top floor—and I know that’s where I’ll find her.

I make it to the top floor, moving silently down the hallway. But the moment I spot a guard stationed outside the door to Elena’s room, I pull back into the shadows.

Fuck.

I didn’t expect them to be guarding her this closely.

I wait, crouching in the darkness, watching the guard’s movements. He shifts his attention briefly elsewhere and that’s all I need. I slip into the nearest bedroom, quietly closing the door behind me.

Moving quickly, I head to the window. I crack it open just enough and slip outside, the cool night air hitting me as I grip the ledge and begin to make my way across the stone facade toward Elena’s balcony. Every step is deliberate, every grip solid, but when I glance down, I’m reminded just how high up I am. One wrong move and I’m done for.

It strikes me how insane this all is. Crawling along the side of a Bratva fortress like a goddamn thief in the night just to see her. But I keep going.

I reach the balcony and quietly step over the railing. I can see her sitting on the bed, her laptop open, the soft glow of the screen illuminating her face. She’s laser focused and unaware of anything else. My heart tightens at the sight of her, and for a split second, I feel something strange, something unfamiliar that catches me off guard.

What the hell are you doing, Grigori?

I pause, gripping the edge of the balcony railing, knowing that if I want to back off, this is my last chance. I could disappear into the night, pretend none of this ever happened. But then I catch sight of her again, and this time, I really see her. She’s sitting there in nothing but a thin sleeping shirt that barely covers her thighs, giving me flashes of pastel blue panties underneath every time she shifts.

My cock twitches at the sight of her, but I know it’s more than that pulling me here. It’s not simple lust, though that’s enough to drive any man insane. No, it’s something deeper. Something I don’t fully understand yet but need to figure out.

Before I lose my nerve, I knock on the window. Elena’s eyes snap wide as she slams her laptop shut. For a second, she looks pissed—like I’ve invaded her space—but then her expression changes. She gets up and walks over, her face flickering between happy and annoyed, like she can’t decide which feeling to land on.

She slides the door open, glaring at me with crossed arms.

“What the hell are you doing here, Grigori?” she whispers.

I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips. “Thought I’d drop by to clean the gutters. They’re looking a little rough.”

She rolls her eyes, a smile breaking through her frustration. “You’re unbelievable.”

She steps aside and I slip into the room, my eyes flicking to the laptop she just slammed shut. I raise an eyebrow. “Looking at naughty things online?”

“In your dreams.”

I’m curious about what she was looking at, though. I can tell when she’s in an investigative mood—maybe she’s been poking around about the shooting. But I bite my tongue. I’m not here to pry.

Not tonight.

She takes a step closer, her tone softening. “So, why are you really here? You obviously went to great lengths to avoid my brothers.”

I meet her gaze, trying to keep my cool. “I wanted to check up on you.”

She narrows her eyes, the heat between us building. “Check up on me? You didn’t seem all that concerned the other night. If anything, you looked like you couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.”

Her words hit harder than I expect. She’s not wrong, I did push her away. But that’s only because getting closer to her felt dangerous, like walking a tightrope without a safety net. Apologies aren’t exactly my strong suit, but I know when I’ve screwed up.

I pause, weighing my next words carefully. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

She studies me, her eyes searching mine as if trying to figure out whether or not I’m being genuine.

At first, Elena seems mollified by my apology, but then I see a flash of anger in her eyes. Before I can react, she steps forward and shoves me hard, her fist connecting with my chest.

“You think this is just about me?” she snaps, her voice sharp. “I was worried about you, Grigori! And you just dropped off the face of the earth. You didn’t even bother to check in after everything that happened. And now, you’re keeping me in the dark.”

I tense, trying to stay calm. “It’s for your own good.”

That only pisses her off more. Her face flushes, and she steps closer, her voice rising. “That’s what everyone says! My brothers, you. All of you are always telling me what to do, making decisions for me, telling me it’s ‘for my own good.’ Like I’m some fragile little doll who can’t handle myself.” She’s nearly shaking now, her frustration palpable. “You’re treating me just like they do. I thought you were different.”

I let her vent, watching her closely. There’s something deeper going on here, something emotional she’s not saying. Her words cut, sure, but the more I listen, the more I realize it’s not just anger coming out. It’s hurt. Her voice wavers, and I can see the tension building, like she’s holding something back. She’s on the verge of tears.

Fuck.

Without thinking, I step forward, my hands landing on her shoulders, firm but gentle.

“Elena, what’s going on?”

She says nothing at first, but her eyes glisten, the tears threatening to spill. God, she looks beautiful, even when she’s fighting back emotions she doesn’t want to show. My heart clenches at the sight of her, something raw stirring inside me.

“Just… don’t do that again,” she whispers. “Don’t shut me out like that ever again.”

“I won’t, I swear,” I promise. I mean every word.

I step closer, my hands tightening around her waist.

“Elena,” I say, my breath hitching. “If I don’t kiss you right now, I’m going to go fucking crazy.”

A small smile curves her lips, her eyes still misty but brightening.

“What are you waiting for then?”

That’s all I need. I pull her into me, crashing my lips against hers, hunger and need overtaking everything else. My cock goes hard instantly, the heat between us igniting like a match thrown on gasoline. She kisses me back, her hands roaming over my body, and I reach under her shirt, grabbing her ass and pressing her tight against me, letting her feel exactly how much I want her.

She tastes so damn good—like temptation, like trouble, like something I can’t get enough of. I lift her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carry her to the desk. We don’t break the kiss, our mouths hungry, our bodies pressing together with the kind of need that makes me lose all sense.

I grind my cock against her, feeling her moan into the kiss, and everything else disappears.

The kiss deepens, her soft moans echoing in my head, driving me wild. I grind against her, feeling the heat between us growing. My hand slides down, and when my fingers brush against her soaked panties, my cock throbs even harder. She’s ready for me, and I can barely keep it together.

Between heated breaths, we exchange the kind of dirty talk that fuels the fire. “You’re so wet for me,” I murmur against her lips, feeling her shiver in response.

“And you’re so hard for me,” she breathes back, her voice thick with desire.

With a quick tug, I slide her panties down her gorgeous legs, the sight of her bare skin making me ache even more. She’s working on my pants, fingers deft as she undoes the zipper. My cock leaps free, hard and ready, and she wraps her hand around it, stroking me with that playful smile on her lips.

“Peeping Tom,” she teases, her eyes flashing with amusement. “What am I gonna do with you?”

I pull her closer. “Not sure but I’m gonna shut that sassy mouth of yours.”

She grins, biting her lip. “I’d like to see you try.”

With a growl, I kiss her again, harder this time, our bodies locked in the heat of the moment.

I grip her hips, positioning my cock at her entrance, sliding the swollen head against her wet slit, teasing her, spreading her juices over me. Her moans are like fuel to the fire burning inside me. I rub my length up and down, letting the tip graze her clit before pulling back again.

She squirms beneath me, her breath hitching. “What the hell are you waiting for, Grigori?”

I smirk and lean down, my lips brushing her ear. “I love teasing you, dragging it out, and watching you squirm.”

She lets out a frustrated laugh. “If you make me wait any longer, I’m going to smack you loud enough for the guard to hear.”

I chuckle, loving the fire in her. “Beg for it.”

She laughs. “Fuck off.”

But I hold her tighter, pushing the head of my cock inside just enough to make her gasp, then pulling back. “Beg,” I say again, this time with more force, making it clear I’m serious.

Her playful smirk fades as she meets my eyes. She swallows hard, realizing I’m not backing down.

“Please,” she whispers, her voice softer now. “I need you.”

I shake my head, pressing my cock against her entrance but not entering.

“That’s not begging.”

She exhales sharply, her body tense with need. “Please, fuck me, Grigori. I need it.”

Satisfied, I grin, and with one powerful thrust, I push inside her.